Pack handling device



y 1961 T. A. INSOLIO ETAL. 2,983,391

PACK HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed May 28, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q as 8 l2 32g 32 0 32b 41/ IV 1 7! m 74-" i 74 74 l6 l6 F I g.

INVENTORS.

Thomas A. /r Iso/i0 Rena Car/n1 y Peter J Magrml, 5/. B

5 M W M THE/R ATTORNEYS y 9, 1951 T. A. INSOLIO EIAL 2,983,391

PACK HANDLING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 28, 1957 W M N T s n M 3 m m m m A a. 0 m 0 e MHMP m: T v! 6 il- 8 L m1 L l 1 H w LL May 9, 1 6 T. A. msouo ETAL PACK HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed May 28, 1957 I54 I52 I52 I88 L-I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; Thomas A. lnsa/m Reno Car/n1 Peter J Magr/m, Sr.

8 M U l THE/R ATTORNEYS May 9, 1961 -r. A. msouo EI'AL PACK HANDLING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 28, 1957 in s am Sites PACK HANDLING DEVICE Original application May 28, 1957, Ser. No. 662,147. Divided and this application Mar. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 730,032

8 Claims. (Cl. 212-129 This invention relates to a device for handling packs of sheet material and similarly stacked or packed articles in general, but in particular it relates to a handling device primarily for hoisting and conveying packs of sheet glass stacked on one edge. Essentially, a traversing crane is the basic structure which is here employed having an extensible boom and a suspended carrier thereon for hoisting and handling the glass packs. The crane and extensible boom structure per se are disclosed and claimed in copending Insolio et al. patent application, Serial No. 662,148, filed May 28, 1957, from which this application is divided addressed to the carrier.

There are many conditions in which it would be a marked advantage to have a suspended endwise extensible crane which can be moved so as to traverse sidewise even when extended. An example is a glass plant building installation in which the overhead suspending rails that areprovided for the crane structure are disposed in an area in the building at one side of a row of intermediate roof supporting pillars beyond which glass cuttingcells or other bays in that buildingare located. The crane operator is presented with a definite problem in moving the crane endwise to deposit a first sheet glass pack in onecutting cell, in further moving to another point in that cell to pick up a second glass pack, then moving it endwise from that cell to remove the second glass pack in a path between pillars in the row, and finally dischargatent C a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show a 'or bays 18.

preferred embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a suspended crane structure installed just beneath the roof of a building and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2 but shows the pack carrier to enlarged scale in side elevation;

Figure 4 shows the pack carrier in front elevation;

Figures 5 and 6' are sectional views taken along the respective lines V-V and VI-Vl in Figure 3; and

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views showing a sequence of operations of the present invention.

More particularly in Figures 1-10 of the drawings, We show one portion of a building 10 which is primarily adapted for use in sheet glass plants and which includes a lengthwise extending outside wall 12 having a parallel row of roof-supporting columns or pillars 14 spaced therefrom on the inner side of that wall. The wall 12 has a row of transverse interconnecting paritions '16 of intermediate height arranged between it and each of the pillars 14 to define a series of included cutting cells Properly supported by, but beneath the roof thereof, the building 10 has a longitudinally extending overhead rail system including a crane track at one side of the row of pillars 14 which is composed of a high rail A generally adjacent thereto and a companion outer rail 0. On the opposite outer side of the row of pillars 14 the overhead rail system further includes a parallel third rail T disposed at a somewhat lower level than the crane track rails A and 0, but sufiiciently high for suspended crane structure to clear the tops of the cutting cell partitions 16.

A suspended sidewise movable crane structure includes spaced end trucks 20 carrying rollers 21 for rolling along the crane track rails O and A and further includes a unitary bridge member 22 formed of spaced parallel I-beams 23 "secured at their opposite ends to the end trucks 20 and providing trackways at the top and bottom ing the second glass pack at some other place, such as another bay.

The present invention resolves the foregoing diificulty, having the operating characteristics and mobility necessaryfor the marked advantage already indicated with having extensible crane structure which can traverse sidewise as desired even when extended. More specifically, the instant crane structure has an end extension or boom which carries a load supporting trolley between its ends in the usual Way, but one of these'ends has a permanent but shiftable connection to the crane in order for the other end-to'extend with the proper stability therefrom in the "desired direction. A very satisfactory packcarrier is provided which depends from the trolley in load engaging position and is arranged :with a carryingand hoisting rnechanism'tofraiseor tovdeposit glass packs .below the points where the trolley stops. ,We-provide. alload car- 'ryiilg' appendage and a novelclamping device on the. "c rrier for securing the. glass pack firmly thereto while 'transit. A feature is thatthe pack carrieris designed jtornaintain the same angle'whether loaded 'or empty iii/hen suspendeclq Thisangle matches the standard'angle -of inclinatio'n of stacked sheet gl'a's'sf.

Asabove indicated, this invention is primarily adapted ,to' handle packs vo'f' sheet glassor ,plate;-.glass,fbut the operating principles-apply with equal advanta'g'jei I andling-"shee ts and packs ingenera'l, :for exarnple, 'p1 y'.

I Further features, objects, and advantages will eith er 1 eed; composition, I or. metal plates orl sheets' lly pointed cut'or become apparent whehi for of the bridge defined by theupper and lower rails 24 and 25 of. the I-beams. One of the end trucks 20 carries a crane drive motor 26 which through the usual traction wheel and driving axle assembly 28 provides an electrically controlled drive to move the cranestructure sidewise along the crane track rails A and O. In the space between the I-beams 23- thereof, the bridge member 22 includes a trolley element 30, plus a boom element 32 for carrying the same and being itself carried for telescoping movement in the bridge member 22 A depending pack carrier which is suspended from the trolley element 30 by means of a swivel connection hereinafter described for turning about a vertical axis, consists essentially of a hoisting head 34 which carries a load engaging appendage 36. 'By means of a roller carried at, its outer extremity, the boom 32 when in itsextended position, rides on the third rail T sofias to provide proper s'upportin rolling along with the load of the suspended packicarrier. v v

In Figures. 3' and4 the hoistinghead 34 on the pack carrier is vertically disposed comprisingftwo outwardly.

facing channels 152 arranged back to back and rigidly and lower connections. tween the channels 152, comprises a'bracket 154 carrying across pin 1 5dwhich-passes;throughfthe eye of the eye bolt 138 in" a cooperative manneriforminga universal joints in'gably mounting theipa'ckfcarrier for swivelling in' or on al'plane's about a vertical axis. 7, The carrier "isstat ca 1y balanced for-all positions to which turned in the horizontal plane, bywhich we'mean thatcenter of gravity is designed to fall on or at least closely adjacent the vertical swivel axis aforesaid. Balance is obtained by providing lead counterweight means secured thereto, which make the carrier hang properly and in connection with the chief one of which, an angle iron cross piece 158 on the head 34- carries lead counterweight 160 which takes the appearance illustrated in these figures and makes the pack carrier hang in a position wth the hoisting head 34 vertical at all times regardless of whether loaded or unloaded. The bottom connection fixing together the channels 152 comprises a bracket 162 which carries a centering roller 164.

The hoisting head 34 may be provided with a conventional tugger hoist for raising and lowering the hoist member 36, but preferably for that purpoe we use a screw hoisting mechanism. The hoisting head 34 carries that mechanism which includes a vertical shaft 166 set in bearings therein and straddled by a pair of horizontal spaced shafts 168. The vertical shaft 166 has a universal joint 176 at the lower end connecting it to an internally splined input sleeve 172. A worm 1'74 fast to the midportion of the vertical shaft 166 meshes with a pair of worm wheels 176 keyed to the respective horizontal shafts 168 at the front end. An individual bearing 17% on the hoisting head 34 supports each rear end of the shafts 168 which at the midportion carry separate rack pinions 185B.

The load carrying appendage 36 forms the hoist member suspended from the pack carrier and comprises a substantially vertically disposed pair of outwardly facing channels 182 arranged back to back and rigidly connected together at three spaced points by means of an upper cross plate 184, a gear housing 186, and a rigid foot assembly 188 so as to provide a guideway of uniform width for running on the centering roller 1'64 carried by the hoisting head 34. The channels 182 carry fixed upper and lower wood bars 190 and 192 which connect them together at two more points and which are padded on the outside surface with appropriate material for engaging the glass pack. At the upper extremity each channel 182 carries an outwardly facing rack 194 each in constant mesh with the rack pinion 180 on the adjacent shaft 168. The three-point engagement which the centering roller 164 and the two rack pinlons 180 on the hoisting head 34 establish with the load carrying appendage 36 affords to the racks 194 affixed thereto a desirable freedom to seek a neutral balanced position with the teeth in a load sharing relationship supporting the appendage 36. Each rack 194 is vertically disposed and in vertical alignment with the opposite ends thereof, each channel 182 carries spaced staggered cross shafts 196 on which a pair of tapered rollers 193 is journaled with slight offset to one another for rolling in the guideway formed by the opposed flanges of the outwardly facing vertical channels 152 in the hoisting head 34. Therefore, the rack 194 and the'rollers 198 are parallel and travel in the guideway in vertical alignment with one another and at a slight angle to the length of the channels 182 which are maintained at a selected inclination at all times with reference to a vertical plane. The gear housing 186 contains a pair of meshing bevel gears (not shown) one of whichis fast to an upwardly extending drive shaft 200 having a single longitudinal spline and being telescopically received withinthe input.

sleeve 172 so as to form an extensible sliding joint connection to the 'worm 174 for driving the rack pinions 180. The other bevel wheel (not shown) is connected by a shaft 282 from within the gear box 186 to an electric; drive motor if preferred or, as illustrated, to a hand Wheel 2614 carried by the channels 182 comprising the appendage 36. Rotation of the shaft 202 raises and lowersthe appendage 36 on the hoisting head 34.

A typical glass supporting buck with which theapack carrier is adapted to cooperate comprises a p'airpf upr' 'wardly conyerging rigid A frames 2% which ,carry the glass packs '2tl8 and which'have the same selected degree of inclination to a vertical reference plane 210 as does the load carrying appendage 36 on the pack carrier. Each glass pack 208 rests on edge upon a low stool 211 formed of short spaced l-beams and adapted to be straddled by forked toe portions provided in conventional manner to the end of the foot assembly 188. A clamping means is provided on the pack carrier for clamping the pack 288 to the padded wooded cross bars 1% and 192 on the load carrying appendage 36.

The glass clamping means according to Figures 3, 5, and 6 has operating mechanism including a tubular assembly formed of an outer tube 212 journaled in aligned bearings 214 carried by the channels 182 and an inner tube 216 in each end of the outer tube 212 and rigidly carrying a swingably vertically extending lever arm 218. A cross pin 22% affixed to the inner end of each inner tube 216 slides in lengthwise extending paired slots 222 formed in the opposite ends of the outer tube so as to prevent relative rotation between the inner and outer tubes. The inner tubes 216 are axially shiftable toward and away from one another so as to adjust the effective length of the tubular assembly and thereby change the distance between the opposite arms 218 which they carry. This adjustment enables the arms 218 to fit glass packs of different widths. The upper end of each lever arm 218 pivotally carries a tie rod connector 224- which is pivotally connected to the adjacent opposite end of a horizontal clamping bar 226 for engaging the glass pack. The outer tube 212 rigidly carries a depending crank lever 228 having a cam surface for rocking the tube assembly which is engaged by an eccentric 230. The eccentric 230 is fast to a cross shaft 232 journaled to the channels 182 which carries a hand crank 234 rigid therewith and provided with a handle 236 at the end. The hand crank 234 carries a plunger latch 238 at its midportion which has an operating handle 240 and which has a plunger portion 242 at the inner end protruding through the crank midportion and engageable in selected openings 244 formed in a semi-circle-in a stationary latch plate 246. The handle 240 is guided for movement in an L-shaped slot 248 in the case of the latch 238 which has a transverse part in which the handle can be lodged to hold the plunger portion 242 retracted but a biasing spring 250 is normally efiective on the latch plunger so as to hold the protruding end 242 firmly in one of the openings 244. The latching plate 246 has a mounting bracket 252 rigidly mounting it to the adjacent channel 182. Release of the plunger latch by withdrawing the handle 240 enables an operator to apply pressure to move the handle 23s so as to rotate the eccentric 230 and, change the tension in the tie rod connectors224. In this fashion the glass pack 208 can be firmly secured under adequate tension to the load carrying appendage 36on the pack carrier. Thereafter, the hand wheel 294 is rotated to raise and lower the. apepndage 36 in depositing and picking up glass packs 208 as required. No instability, is encountered when theappendage engages or releases a load inasmuch as the channels 182 thereof have the same selected inclination to the vertical as the glass packs and due to the counterweights on the head 34 they retain this-inclination whether unloaded or loaded. 1

A sequence of operationv of the pack handling device of the preceding figures is best understood with refer; ence to Figures 7., 8; 9, and 10. In Figure 7, the boom element. 32 is shown in'its normal or home position with respect the bridge 22. and the trolley element 30 is in its home "position approximately midway. between the lower wheel. trucks 114 in the end'truck for the boom elememes. f i Figure 8 shows theresultof moving the trolley and boQm eIementsBll, 32together-to the right enabling the is firmly or t h, n s in cha g s i a mad the rollers on the trolleyelement .30 enable it to continue movement farther tothe right from thesolid line showing of Figure 8. t

Figure 9 shows the boom element 32 in its temporary cantilevered position of movement between the home position of Figure 7 and its extreme extended position. In this case the trolley element 30 moves therewith, locked in position midway between the lower rollers 114. Thus, the combined weight of the trolley and its load coupled with the pressure of mechanical engagement of the roller 116 on the under side of the upper I-beam rail 24 produces a counter-balancing moment at the inner end of the boom element 32 togive stability to the truck and help off-set dead weight of the outer end of the boom while extending in cantilever fashion at in-between position of transition typified by Figure 9.

Figure shows the boom element 32 in its fully extended position'with the roller 70 on the boom element extension 54 being solidly engagedwith the third rail T. The indicated design clearance of A between the third rail T and the roller 70 thereabove is taken up immediately the trolley element 30 starts moving toward an unloading position whereby its weight imperceptibly tilts the boom element downwardly bringing the roller 70 on the boom extension 54 and the rail T into the desired load-sustaining rolling engagement together. This engagement makes it feasible thereafter for the trolley to move independently and for the bridge 22 to move sidewise with the trolley with assurance of solid support for the boom element 32 firmly at both its ends; The inner end of the bridge element 22 retains its permanent connection for movement to the rail A of the overhead crane track whereas the rollers 114 and 116 on the boom element end truck continue to perform as a permanent shiftable connection between the inner ends of the bridge and boom elements 22 and 32. The solid connections thus aiforded eliminate drawbacks attendant with use use of cantilever type of support for a boom with the loaded:

trolley thereon, and yet they do not interefere with the full mobility illustrated in the dotted line showings 32a, 32b, and 320 of Figure 1.

Variations within the spirit and scope of the invention described are equally comprehended by the foregoing description.

We claim:

1. In a glass pack hoisting hoisting device, a substantially vertically suspended support, upper and lower bars affixed adjacent one side of said support for engagement with a pack of upright glass sheets disposed in an outwardly tilted position at that side, a horizontal clamping bar engageable with the outermost sheet to clamp the pack against said fixedbars and having tension elements which are connected atone end to spaced points thereon,

mechanism mounted to said support and connected to the other ends of said tension elements for applying clamping tension thereto, said mechanism including eccentric means rotatable to adjust said tension, and a hand crank for rotating said eccentric means for adjustably clamping the horizontal bar into the described engagement with the glass pack. I V v p 2. For use with a hoisting device including -a--substantially vertical support, an improved means of securing a pack of upright glass sheets in an outwardly tilted position on said support, said means comprisinga horizontally disposed assembly ,of tubular partsc'onnected t6" rock conjointly with one" another on said support, and tele pack of upright glass sheets in an outwardly tilted position on said support, said means comprising a horizontallyldisposed assembly of tubular parts connected to rock conjointly with one another on said support, and telescopically related so as to provide for the foreshortening and the extension of the assembly between its ends, swinging arms fast to different ones of the tubular parts and swingable together, a horizontal glass clamping bar connected at spaced points thereon to the swinging ends of a plurality of 'said arms, means for locking said securing means in an adjusted clamping position, and cam means for rotating another arm on said said assembly for adjustably clamping said bar into the described engagement.

4. In a hoisting device comprising a substantially vertical support, clamping meansfor securing a stack of upright glass sheets in an outwardly tilted position thereon, said clamping means comprising a horizontally disposed assembly of tubular parts connected to rock conjointly I with one another on said supports and being telescopically related so as to render the assembly adjustable between its ends, spaced arms connected to the opposite end parts of said assembly, a horizontal glass clamping bar connected at spaced points thereon to the swinging end of each of said spaced arms, another arm fast to a different tubular part in said assembly, an eccentric rotatably mounted to said support for rocking the last named arm and said assembly so as to swing the arms on the end parts and apply clamping tension to the clamping bar, and means for rotating said eccentric to adjusted positions for adjusting said tension.

5 A handling device comprising a hoisting head having a guideway extending lengthwise thereof and having an upper portion for attachment to a trolley, a hoist member interfitting with the. head, and a rack and pinion drive means operatively connecting the hoisting head and said member for elevating the hoist member, said hoist member having afiixed thereto a series of guide elements disposed in tandem soas to be parallel to the rack teeth in said drive means and received in said guideway in running relation, said hoist member being carried by the .tandem series of guide elements so as to run in a fixed sloping angular relation thereto for thereby maintaining a substantially constant minor skew angle to the head in all elevated positions to which the hoist member runs.

6. A handling device comprising a hoisting head having a guideway extending lengthwise thereof and having an upper portion for attachment to a trolley, a hoist member interfitting with the head, and racks disposed one at each side of the hoist member and meshing with companion pinions. to form spaced drive connections between the hoisting head and said member, said member seeking a neutral balanced position in a vertical reference plane so as to equalize the tooth load between 7 ,said connections, said member having aYfixed thereto a series of roller means received in said guideway inrunning relation and running in a direction parallel with said racks,'said member beingcarried by the roller means so as to run in a fixed sloping angular relation thereto for thereby maintaining a substantially constant diagonal angle to the head in [all elevated positions to which said member runs.

7. A handling devicecomprising a hoist head member having a guideway extending lengthwise thereof and scopically related so as to provide for-the foreshortening and the extension oflthe assembly between-its ends,"

swinging arms fast to different ones of the tubularrparts and swingabletogethen'qa horizontal glass clamping bar connected at spaced pointsthereon tothejswinging ends [of a plurality of said'arr'ns, andz' cam means forrotating I another arm on saidassemblyffor adjustablyj'clamping saidlbarinto the described engagement. 5' 3. For use witha hoisting de'viceincluding a substantially vertical support, animproved means of Securing a Q connected together at a th ird centeringlpoint=therebef tween whereby said hoist j member seeks a neutral balanced position, in a vertical: reference plane so as "to equalize the toothzloadfbetween said'spaced-apart drive" connections, said operative connection comprising aeenhaving an upper portion for attachment to a trolley, a

hoist member interfitting with the guideway of'said head member, andracks disposed at a fixed angle one at each "sideof the. hoist member and meshing with companion pinions to form spaced-apart, drive connections between the hoist head --member and said hoistmember, the hoist headrnember and said hoist member bein'g operatively tering roller on one of said members effecting constant rolling contact with the other, said hoist member having a series of roller means offset in their alignment lengthwise or the hoist member and running in tandem with respect to said guideway, said hoist member being carried bythe Series of said roller means so as to run in a fixed sloping angular relation thereto for thereby maintaining a substantially constant diagonal angle to the hoist head member in all elevated positions to which said hoist member runs.

8. A pack carrier device comprising a hoisting head member having a guideway extending lengthwise thereof and having an upper portion for attachment to a trolley, a hoist member interfitting with the head member, a rack and pinion drive means operatively connecting said hoisting head and hoist members for elevating the hoist member, said hoist member having affixed thereto a series of guide elments disposed in tandem so as to be parallel to the rack teeth in said drive means and received in said guideway in running relation, and counterweight means connected to at least one of said members of the pack carrier device for statically balancing same where- 10 which the hoist member runs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 1,287,336 Kendall Dec. 10, 1918 1,429,012 Andrews Sept. 12, 1922 2,049,850 Lytle Aug. 4, 1936 2,611,498 Broersma Sept. 23, 1952 

